…He was a feisty, slippery egoist who could not be pinned down by questioners and who could outtalk anybody in the authentic voice of New York…

"The city was and is his family," said Maureen Connelly, a former press secretary and veteran political adviser. "We used to be scared about what would happen to Ed if he lost. We said it would be best if he just died in the saddle. But he never had any intention of getting off the horse."